How to Warm-Up & Practice Singing in Your Car Each Day

Singing practice can sometimes be tricky, especially if you are a busy person. Of course the ideal situation for practicing singing is to be able to stand so you are freely supporting your body and so that you able to use your diaphragm efficiently. A lot of singers sit to accompany themselves as they sing (keyboard players, guitarists, harpists) so standing is not always an easy option when practicing and performing. So developing a process that works for you and which suits your needs is worth pursuing.

Before you
embark on practicing in a mobile situation it is important to gather together
what you will need:

For those singers who spend time travelling to and from work each day by car these suggestions are hopefully going to be of some value to you.

* a device of some kind to play your exercises on (phone, MP3 player or tablet)

* seat adjusted so your back is straight, you will need to consider this even more so if you are practicing regularly whilst sitting

* a recording of your chosen warm-ups and exercises (scales)

* a recording of your chosen song – preferably a version with a lead singer to start with and then more importantly a version that is just an accompaniment (backing track or instrumental)

* have drinking water available

1. Start off by breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth: a technique I use with my students is get them to mentally count to 5 on the in breath, then hold for a second or two and then slowly release the breath out through your mouth counting to 5 as you release. This is excellent for stress relief, as well as oxygenating the brain in preparation for singing. Repeat this step 4 or 5 times or as need – you know it is enough when you feel relaxed.

2. Hum softly for 3-5minutes. Humming entails making notes with your
mouth closed, you will be breathing in and out through your nose as you
do this. The use of humming as part of warming your voice up for singing
is excellent as it forces you to really breathe well and use your
diaphragm to help produce sounds. You could hum a song you would
normally sing, however when warming up scales are a good place to start
as you can focus on your pitch and getting long or short notes in a
deliberate way.

3. A CD or MP3 file of scale warm-ups can be very handy to have
playing – it is ideal to hear these scales through speakers and sing
along rather than with ear buds in, as sometimes hearing yourself sing
can be challenging. The important thing as you practice scales is to
hear your voice as you sing each note, so that you know that your pitch
work is effective.

4. Have the song you want to work on available – it is preferable to have a recording with a lead vocalist, so you can sing through with a guide singer. The best option is having the song as a backing track or as an instrumental version so that you can hear yourself as you sing. If you are practicing a song without a recording choose something very familiar lyrically. Remember it may not always be easy to work on learning lyrics as effectively as you would when not travelling.

5. Consider what it is you want to work on. Dynamics
(variations in loud and soft sounds) is a great thing to work on in the
car, especially if no-one is listening; this is one area singers
sometimes forget to work on. Phrasing, timing and breathe work also areas you can work on in a mobile situation.

6. Plan your practice according to the length of the journey. If your
make your own recording or use one from your singing lessons then the
timing of how you practice will be more precise.

Practicing should be a challenge, but also self-fulfilling in as much as it provides pleasure and a sense of a achievement. Take your time and be patient with yourself. Progress happens when strategic planning and dedication to using your time effectively occurs.

Let me know what your experiences
have been like with this – I would love your feedback regarding any suggestions
you have found useful.